Where's Waldo?
Today’s title comes from the fact that I had no idea how to start how to start this entry. You know when you start a Where’s Waldo puzzle (or “Where’s Menno” for those of you who have access to a copy of “The Mennonite Starter Kit”), you start searching in obvious places? I keep on searching this way, jumping from groups of cartoon drawings, knowing that there is a very systematic way to search for our bobble hat clad friend. I can start on the top of the page and scan across as if I was reading a book. Often I just can’t be bothered to start the very logical sequence because I’d be missing the fun of randomly selecting parts of the picture to look for Waldo (or Wally as he is known in the UK).
Similarly, I can’t be bothered to start to relate my week in a systematic fashion, which would be to begin on Friday (date of the last entry) and relate my experiences over the weekend and the days teaching. I still don’t know what I should type….
It was the first week back since our last break of the school year. What I have been finding is that the behaviour of the students generally gets worse just before the breaks, which we often chalk up to a combination of a long half-term and their excitement for the holidays. I would then expect that their behaviour would return to a more normal level upon return, but it usually it still worse and continues to be progressively worse to the end of the next term. This was to be my easier teaching week, but I had to do a lot of follow up with student behaviour which took up a lot of my free time. The rest of my non-teaching was used up typing reports for 3 of my classes: about 80 students. I feel sorry for teachers who had to do 7 classes worth (180-200 students!)
During this hectic time, I am still in the process of applying for teaching positions back home. I’m trying not to get too stressed about it, but it’s hard when there is a teacher shortage here other teachers who are moving on after this year already have jobs lined up. I guess I just have to keep a positive attitude and hope for the best.
On a different note, the World Cup in Germany is now underway. For the next month many of my students will be glued to the TV., cheering on England. I see a lot more evidence of national pride during this time with the St. George’s cross appearing everywhere. People here are generally not happy with their own country, but when you talk football, the English are fiercely patriotic. This will be a different experience for me – living in a football crazed country that actually has a team in the World Cup. (Apparently Canada has only been in it once.) It will be on for the next month, and will be a major topic with the kids (along with this year’s version of Big Brother). I’ll let you know how it goes!
Shalom
Kevin
P.S. I have updated my Yahoo Photos with my Trip to Scotland album (a link is on the right table). Have a look if you are interested!
Kevin
Similarly, I can’t be bothered to start to relate my week in a systematic fashion, which would be to begin on Friday (date of the last entry) and relate my experiences over the weekend and the days teaching. I still don’t know what I should type….
It was the first week back since our last break of the school year. What I have been finding is that the behaviour of the students generally gets worse just before the breaks, which we often chalk up to a combination of a long half-term and their excitement for the holidays. I would then expect that their behaviour would return to a more normal level upon return, but it usually it still worse and continues to be progressively worse to the end of the next term. This was to be my easier teaching week, but I had to do a lot of follow up with student behaviour which took up a lot of my free time. The rest of my non-teaching was used up typing reports for 3 of my classes: about 80 students. I feel sorry for teachers who had to do 7 classes worth (180-200 students!)
During this hectic time, I am still in the process of applying for teaching positions back home. I’m trying not to get too stressed about it, but it’s hard when there is a teacher shortage here other teachers who are moving on after this year already have jobs lined up. I guess I just have to keep a positive attitude and hope for the best.
On a different note, the World Cup in Germany is now underway. For the next month many of my students will be glued to the TV., cheering on England. I see a lot more evidence of national pride during this time with the St. George’s cross appearing everywhere. People here are generally not happy with their own country, but when you talk football, the English are fiercely patriotic. This will be a different experience for me – living in a football crazed country that actually has a team in the World Cup. (Apparently Canada has only been in it once.) It will be on for the next month, and will be a major topic with the kids (along with this year’s version of Big Brother). I’ll let you know how it goes!
Shalom
Kevin
P.S. I have updated my Yahoo Photos with my Trip to Scotland album (a link is on the right table). Have a look if you are interested!
Kevin
posted by K. Stoesz at 11:42
1 Comments:
Kevin, super pictures, especially the pictures where you placed the archway in front, thanks for sharing your tour to Scotland via pictures.
Bill and Ruth
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